Many athletes who earn the privilege of calling themselves Olympians will celebrate the occasion in the same way: by getting the Olympic rings tattooed somewhere on their body. It's a tradition that dates back several decades and has become so ubiquitous that it's practically considered a rite of passage.
For some athletes, those rings will be the first (and maybe only) tattoo they get. But for others, tattoos are just a part of who they are.
Several members of Team USA shared their body art with us. Some of these athletes have tattoos with deeply personal meanings, including those famous Olympic rings, while others are just addicted to the ink. Check it out below.
Caeleb Dressel, Swimming
"I have one big one on my arm. It pretty much represents me and my home state of Florida. I have a bear, eagle, and gator in the sleeve as well, which are all native to Florida, as well as some native flowers."
Nyjah Huston, Skateboard Street
"I was at Tampa Pro — it was this contest when I was 18 — and my buddy was going to get [a tattoo]. They were doing tattoos there and he was like, 'Dude, you've got to get one with me,' and I was like, 'Uh, I don't know, I don't really want tattoos.' I ended up getting 'Skate and Destroy,' your classic Thrasher Magazine saying and probably the most popular skate saying out there. And honestly, it just went from there. It slowly became an addiction. My mom wasn't that down for it at first, but she's gotten used to it now."
Carlin Isles, Rugby
"I've got 'FOCUS' on my chest. When I was going into college, I put 'FOCUS' because I realized that no matter what life comes at you, you have to be focused. Because a lot of people lose their focus, and they start detouring a different way. And before they know, their dreams start to slip. I have a lion [underneath it]. I was really big on the Eye of the Tiger. You have to be tenacious, you've got to be hungry. You have to want it. That's something that I've always instilled into myself, and it's always a reminder to me."
"I have a track spike with a crown [on my arm]. I have Jesus that says, basically, 'Don't dismay, God will be always with you.' I have a cross that says, 'Only the strong survive.' And then I have 'FAITH' because that's very important to me, and I have a 'J' with a heart, that's [for] my girl."
Noah Lyles, Track
"I got 'ICON' tattooed over my torso because it reminds me what I want to be known as when I die."
Sam Mikulak, Gymnastics
"I have a Michigan tattoo [on the side of my chest] for winning NCAA team titles back-to-back years, and the Olympic rings [on my back] after I went in 2012."
Brady Ellison, Archery
"I have the Olympic rings on right arm; I have a cow skull and dream catcher on my back that symbolizes chasing dreams, where I came from, and archery; and I have one on my wrist for a lost coach to help me always keep pushing."
A'ja Wilson, Basketball
"My grandmother was my number one role model. Her name is Hattie Rakes, and I have her name on my wrist. She passed away in 2016, but she was someone that really helped me believe in myself."
Johnny Hooper, Water Polo
"Two tattoos: my mom’s name in Japanese (got it in 2014), and an anchor on my right ankle which signifies staying grounded and living in the moment (from 2016)."
Perry Baker, Rugby
"I have a tattoo in the middle of my back that has a hand with a nail in it and blood coming out that reads: 'His pain your gain.' I have another tattoo on my right pec with the Olympic rings that says 'Rio 2016.' "
Ryan Lochte, Swimming
Ryan Murphy, Swimming
Chase Kalisz, Swimming
Simone Biles, Gymnastics
